If there is one game I vividly remember playing on the Game Boy Advance, it’s Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Developed by AlphaDream, I played the game over and over. In the years since, I've changed a lot, but this first adventure with both the brothers has not.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga you follow the Mario Bros., who are tasked with returning Princess Peach’s voice. It was stolen by the evil Cackletta and her trustful henchman Fawful. What makes this world click so much is the witty writing and the funny characters. Like Popple, a thief who you will encounter many times during your quest and who uses “see?” as a sort of silly catchphrase.

What makes the game actually special though, is how well it throws various elements together to one big lovable pile. While you are guided towards a certain path, you have the freedom to explore and take it all in The controls can be a bit finicky at times, in particular when a certain perspective is needed for an action, but the environments are done well. There are various minigames to play, side-quests to find and many things to interact with to make the experience never feel really dry.

The battle system is also great, which has both the turn-based and timed elements. Players choose an attack, like the jump, and press the A button right when they are landing on the enemy for some additional damage. Bros. Attacks go a step further by requiring both brothers to enter the fray and combining their timed skills for super moves. By using the hammer and jumps at the right moments, players can also lower damage taken or render an opponent's attack fully useless.

The game looks quite good still and the pixelated graphics look sharp both on the television and on the Wii U GamePad. It is a bright and colorful adventure with wonderfully crafted locations, which are ready for players to explore. The audio is great too, though it can get a bit repetitive. There are plenty of tracks, but the game tends to use them for overly long periods at a time.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is still a fun ride through and through and I really adored my time with it. While there are some tiny annoyances, it shouldn’t deter anyone from picking the game up. The unique world and interesting characters sell the experience, making it one worth having.